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You can imagine that with 50 years of singing boys, there are many traditions in Houston Boychoir. The most honorable award is the Singing Boy of the year, but my personal favorite is the Spoon Award.

One of the fun things about being in Houston Boychoir [are] that we have many opportunities to eat out; that is where the Spoon Award comes in. In order to win this award you have to eat every thing on your plate and be neat, (or as Mr. Fowler is quick to remind us, ” it is quantity and quality”) but the spoon is always watching!

In my 2 years of going on tour with HBC, after our formal dinner we’ve always gone to get ice cream. Every boy gets whatever he wants and then the 4 boys, that have been neat and have eaten every thing on their plate, year round, are chosen to participate in the competition.

At the competition Mr. Fowler orders a lot of ice cream. The four boys sit at a table with the ice cream. They have a specified limit to eat but, there’s one more twist, you don’t get to eat with regular utensils, you must eat with an item that has something to do with tour (this year it was a miniature minor’s hat keyring or it could be a guitar pick like the year we were in Nashville). Eventually after all that, the boys start eating. When the time limit ends they are judged on neatness and amount eaten. Who ever wins gets the special spoon for the year and his name on a plaque. If the same person gets it for 3 years the spoon is retired.

So, in two days I am off on a 20 hour bus ride for the pleasure of 22 boys and of course my own. Why do we do this crazy thing. I could be home relaxing, working out even “nesting” but it is the adventure of life from the perspective of a 12 year old boy that calls.

Perhaps there is something wrong with me or perhaps I am simply the luckiest gal in town. Whatever the answer I pray that the eternal father protects these boys on their journey through Colorado and through life.